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IF YOU’VE SEEN people showing off their odd socks on social media or in the office today, you might be wondering what’s happening.
The socks are to mark World Down Syndrome Day today, for the reason that they look a bit like chromosomes, and people with Down syndrome have an extra chromosome (making 47 altogether).
While people across Ireland and the UK have been showing off their odd socks (usually matched with a donation to a Down syndrome support organisation), a number of organisations have launched new information campaigns to help parents.
Down Syndrome Ireland is launching a new booklet today, called ‘…more than medical’, which is intended to be a resource for parents with a pre- or postnatal diagnosis of Down syndrome for their baby.
It has also launched a video for new parents, called ‘Having a child with Down syndrome’. On Sunday 24 March, it will hold its fourth annual Purple Run, which is held to raise funds for DSI.
There are about 7,000 people in Ireland with Down syndrome, and DSI works with about 3,500 of them. DSI says that children with Down syndrome can have increased risk of certain health issues, such as congenital heart defects and hearing, vision, thyroid and respiratory problems.
As the life expectancy of people with Down syndrome is increasing, it’s hugely important that the living and learning needs of people who have Down syndrome are supported, says DSI.
Along with this, ideas and attitudes about living with Down syndrome have changed, with the outdated beliefs around the capabilities of people with Down syndrome changing in recent decades.
With that in mind, The Down Syndrome Centre has a new campaign for today called I Could Be, which it says is “about supporting a brighter future for people with Down syndrome”.
Images of 18 children with Down Syndrome will be displayed around Dublin city centre today, each with the #ICouldBe message on it. The messages range from ‘I could be a TV presenter’ to ‘I could be a model’ to ‘I could be an artist’. It’s all about challenging the perceptions that people might have around what that one extra chromosome means:
The campaign aims to promote the message that while people with Down syndrome need additional supports, they have innate potential, skills, talents and unique perspectives to bring to society and to a chosen profession.
‘I Could Be’ is about supporting career opportunities for people with Down syndrome and opportunities to develop and progress in life.
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I had skin cancer in the loop of my ear people need to watch small scab type abrasion I discovered one but took no heed for a while Suddenly I would wake up and find spots of blood in my pillow in the am the scab would fall off but in a few days it would be back . My doctor did a biopsy it turned out to be a type of skin cancer that I have forgotten the name of now which resulted in a few trips to the plastics dept at St James hospital who are a lovely bunch of staff . It was never going to kill me I am told but if left without surgery it would have created a lot of problems in me ear in later life.I am fully cured now thank God I am glad I did not wait around.
@Alan Scott: There are 3 types of skin cancer – basal cell carcinoma, which the lady in the article had. I had it last year – mine was small, so it was surgically removed with no need for further treatment, but without treatment it would keep growing. Another is squamos cell carcinoma – this one spreads to lymph nodes and other organs, so more dangerous, but still very slowly growing. Finally, melanoma, the most agressive and dangerous one.
@Zmeevo Libe: Working outdoors in the 70′s up through the years wearing no sun protection with the knowledge not been as good as it is now is where it would have started mine . Thanks for the information.
I just looked up Boot’s website and there was sun protection creams for under €2. You can get a hat in Pennys for a few euros too; that’s plenty of sun protection for the price of a pint. It’s hard to believe anyone would forgo sun protection on cost grounds.
@Shane Mc Intyre: Yep, value is out there. . 3 bottles of sun lotion in Lidl for under €10.
@Shane Mc Intyre: Stuff is crap. Do some research.
@thesaltyurchin: Well it isn’t. Used Lidl factor 50 on holiday this year. Didn’t even tan. That’s my ‘research ‘.
@IMHO: Likewise. I use the Aldi factor 50 all the time. I buy 3 or 4 four small bottles every year and always keep one in the car. I never burn with it on, so it’s perfect. There, that’s the second case study!!
To the lady who started this cancer story I would like to wish her the very best of health in the future.
We have an odd relationship with the sun and how we’re viewed by others. The number of young women with orange bodies and paint between their fingers is only rising, it is not normal to spray/coat yourself in product that makes you look like you’ve been to Titan for a holiday.
@Osprey: not just young women. Did you see all the oompa loompas that were playing in last Sunday’s all Ireland?
DEALZ have a range of sun creams and sun blocks for €1.50.
I had a melanoma a few years ago and luckily caught it in time. I only got checked what looked to me like a normal mole because I knew someone who died from it at a similar young age to myself. I never sunbathed, I don’t burn too easily but critically I didn’t usually wear sun cream or a hat. It seems like something that happens to other people until it happens to yourself. Prevention is the way to go.
Buy the kids suncream, no vat and exactly the same as the adults one except for maybe extra moisturizer.
I think skin cancer can be avoided if you don’t lie out in the sun.
@Joe Foley: or walk on windy sunny days.
@Joe Foley: but if you lie indoors it’s a mortal sin
Watch the price shoot up now!
I got Lip cancer , my doctor told me it was very unusual in women! It’s known as the Canadian farmers disease! I idi wear factor but never lipstick .
I also live in Spain.
Anyway after a horrific surgery all is well but I never leave the house without wearing Factor under makeup and all my lipsticks have sun factor built in.
As an aside while in Australia I noticed Huge 2 litres bottle of sun cream for about 10 dollars and on the beaches there were free stations with sun protection.
When you see people enjoying sun bath without protection and using UV treatment to look brown, I am not surprised.
No sympathy for people who don’t do the minimum to protect themselves.
The story should also warn against sun beds, the sun is only one problem but wind burn on hot days is another. Factor 50 water proof is best sun cream it should be free on medical card and GP cards at least once a year.
A pal of mine died very young from skin cancer that went to her brain. She left young children behind. If you have any sores that do not heal get it checked.
200ml Lacura Sun Lotion SPF 30 from Aldi should last a normal person for a year. 4.99 Euro at Aldi
@Johannes Baader: People want to buy trendy products so that they look good on their sun lounger. Lidl and Aldi are anathema to some.
Wide brimmed hats may cost a bit but it is a single outlay. The last for ages.
Another dodgy story about made up survey. 7 out of 10 people will agree to almost anything you ask them if you phrase the question right
Black Seed Oil I hear is a very good protectant.
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